a few wedding things

If you remember that at the end of August it was my cousin Ben's wedding to his beautiful bride Hannah. I just thought you would like to see the card and gift I made for them! 

Stamp Set: I {heart} Hearts, Basic Phrases (Retired)

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Shimmer Paint

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Pearls, Button

Extras: Mat Pack, Paper Piercer

Embroidery hoop with aida in it and filled with stitching - their names, wedding date and a Bible verse. A big buttons heart fills in the centre.

Finally a quick picture of Ben and Hannah.

Catch you again tomorrow, 

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge, week 27

Hi there!

Man I am behind with so much! My computer is still a nightmare and as a result making it difficult to use and I just haven't the patience to blog most of the time with the way my computer has been. However I have missed the last couple weeks of Simply Stampin' Challenge and I have to say I've missed it, so I just HAD to bear with my computer to upload this week's entry!

This week's challenge was a theme: Swirls and Pearls. It sounds so glamorous doesn't it?!

Doilie Ruby Wedding Anniversary 

Stamp Set: Delicate Doilies, Basic Phrases (retired as of yesterday!)

Ink: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls

I got asked to make a Ruby Wedding card this week and I thought it would go lovely with the theme Swirls and Pearls. Also a great excuse to get out my NEW stamp set - Delicate Doilies!! Just love it!!So i stamped the background with doilies in the shimmer paint, added some ribbon and LOADS of pearls!!! Finally added a sentiment to finish off the card! 

Hope you liked it - please do leave a comment. Also check out Simply Stampin' Challenge blog for the other design team creations! I hope to see your creations on there too! 

Until next time, 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge, week 22

This week's challenge is a Sketch! With no further introduction, because its VERY late, I haven't packed yet and I'm off on holiday in the morning, here is the sketch and card for this week! 

Hello Autumnal Flowers

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases, Greenhouse Garden

Ink: Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Versamark

Cardstock: Sahara Sand, More Mustard, Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Pearls

Extras: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Corner Rounder

Very simple, I stamped three flowers in the background overlapping one another, and then stamped and embossed some more flowers, cut them out. I did a long line of piercer dots along side the 3 flowers and then added the embossed flowers over top. Lastly I stamped the sentiment, added some pearls and rounded the corners! 

I hope you were inspired by this card and head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog to see the other design team's creations and enter yourself! Don't forget that the added bonus of the Forest Friends stamp set is still up for grabs to all who submit an entry...worth getting the creative juices going for because they are just too cute for words! Please do leave a comment.

Apologies again for such a rushed blog entry this week....summer is almost over and then I promise to get back on track and give everything more time! I an just rushing like crazy at the moment. Still trying to get my cousin's wedding present finished for Monday...eek! 

Hugs,

Amanda xxx

simply stampin' challenge, week 21

So sorry its so late, as my previous post said, a lot has been happening! This week's challenge is a themed challenge and the theme was

Punch it Up 

I love punches and use them on a daily basis so I was wondering how I could make a card a little differently than my normal excessive use of punches. Therefore I thought I'd show you a card using a technique I saw in the Stampin' Up magazine that all the demos get on a monthly basis, its also a technique we did at class this month! 

Hi There Stencilled Flowers

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Ink: Rose Red, Garden Green

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Wild Wasabi

Punch: Modern Label, 5 Petal Flower

Accessories: Basic Pearls

Extras: Sponge, Yellow Permanent Marker, Copy Paper, Dimensionals, Tombo

I punched out the flower shape from copy paper and then using the left over copy paper temporarily adhered it to the card with tombo. I then sponged over the top, peeled off the mask to reveal stencilled images! I free hand drew and cut the curve of the card as there was a lot of dead space, it adds a bit of a different quirky look to the card also! To define the edge of the card I sponged around the card, added a sentiment on the modern label punch. Lastly I coloured in some pearls with a permanent marker and added them to the centre of the flower! 

I hope you liked this week's challenge design, I feel like I have lost my mojo a bit with everything going on this month and desperately trying to regain it again! Please do head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog to see the other design team entries. Don't forget to enter yourself for your chance to win the gorgeous Forest Friends stamp set which is currently being given away! I only wish I was able to win it as they are so cute, but alas, as I am on the design team I can't so one of you lovely ladies has the chance to win it instead! :D 

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda xoxo

for rhoda

A couple weeks ago it was my upline, Rhoda's, 30th birthday, so she obviously needed a special card! Unfortunately I didn't have anything with numbers on it, so I improvised and it actually worked even better than I was expecting! Here we go...

30th Birthday

Stamp Set: Slice of Life (Hostess Only), Basic Phrases, Candle Crazy Builder, So Many Stars Builder

Ink: Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Perfect Plum, Basic Black

Cardstock: Regal Rose Texture, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Punches: Modern Label

Accessories: Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds

Extras: Blender Pen, Jumbo Wheel Handle, Wheel Guide, Builder Spindle and Spacer, Dimensionals, Tombo, Pencil, Black Pen

So I stamped my cake in some Very Vanilla cardstock and the coloured it in with a blender pen. I drew in pencil the 30 on top of the cake so I could get it exactly how I wanted it before tracing over in pen. I added a spot of glitter to the top of the 30 to make it look like burning candles. I ran the builder wheel across some Perfect Plum cardstock, added some satin ribbon in the centre and adhered it to the Crumb Cake base card. I mounted the cake on some Regal Rose and Rose Red cardstock, and adhered to the card with dimensionals. I then stamped and punched out the sentiment, adhered with dimensionals and added a few pearls. I also decided to add crystal effects to the cake stand to give it a little extra glossy shine. I Rhoda liked it! 

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought, I love reading them! 

Come back tomorrow for another card! 

Hugs,

Amanda 

gorgeous foliage...

I am just completely in love with the French Foliage stamp set. The more I play with it the more I like using it. Again this card is another one showcasing the wheel. I think I really am going through a wheel phase at the moment.

French Foliage Birthday

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases, French Foliage, Texture

Ink: Old Olive, More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Old Olive

Accessories: Early Espresso Satin Ribbon

Extras: Clear C Block, Dimensionals, Jumbo Handle, Copy Paper

I just LOVE this card. I wheeled out the texture wheel on the Old Olive card base. I then inked up a clear block (the kind you use for clinging your clear stamps to) in More Mustard ink and stamped it on Very Vanilla cardstock. It actually was just an experiment but worked so well, I was dead impressed! And the texture that the clear block picked up from the ink pad was great, fitted in with the texture wheel. I laid thin copy paper over the edges of the clear block stamp and stamped the leaves so that they over hang the edges. I added the ribbon and stamped the sentiment to finish. 

So, what do you think? Please leave a comment and let me know! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Amanda x

i couldn't resist

A really fun card I created the other day using some fun woodland paper that I bought in the States last month. It was just so cute I couldn't resist. It would be so cool if Stampin' Up came out with some cool woodland dsp collection! 

Birthday Mushrooms

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Ink: Not Quite Navy

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive

DSP: Woodland (non-SU)

Accessories: Tangerine Tango Big Designer Button, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

Extras: Glue Dots

Hope you enjoyed this cute little card today. See you again tomorrow.

Hugs,

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge, week 17

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a colour challenge. And here they are...

Celebrate Swirly Flowers

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases, Season of Joy, So Swirly

Ink: Real Red, Certainly Celery 

Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Real Red

DSP: Poppy Parade (Hostess Only Pack)

Punches: Modern Label, Itty Bitty, Boho Blossoms

Accessories: Basic Pearls

Extras: Sponges, Dimensionals, Jumbo Handle

y This is a little bit of a Christmassy card but by changing the colour combo this card works well at any time of the year! I think this is a card layout that I will be turning back to again and again! I wheeled out the So Swirly wheel in Certainly Celery on Certainly Celery cardstock. I tore the edge and inked it up with Certainly Celery ink to add some definition and adhered it to the Whisper White card base. To blend the Whisper White and Certainly Celery together I inked around the edge of the cardstock to soften the look. I stamped the flowers from the Season of Joy set on Real Red cardstock and layered some punched flowers using Poppy Parade dsp in the centres and on top of that some pearls. Finally I stamped the sentiment on some Poppy Parade dsp and punche out with the Modern Label punch, inked around the edge to finish!

Please head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge, check out the other fab design team entries and then enter yourself! 

Hugs,

Amanda 

xx

oh sew swirly

Following in the theme of Saturday's class. Here is one of my samples I made to show at class on Saturday using the wheel. I really love the So Swirly wheel and while it is advertised as a Christmas product I think it is so versatile. 

Oh Sew Swirly

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases, So Swirly Wheel

Ink: Regal Rose

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink

DSP: Oh Sew

Punches: Modern Label, Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty Pack, Corner Rounder

Accessories: Brights Buttons, Brights Brads

Extras: Paper Piercer, Tombo Multi Glue, Jumbo Wheel Handle

I used a variety of punches to make several flowers using dsp paper and then applied them to the So Swirly wheel. I stamped the sentiment on some more dsp and punched it out using the Modern Label punch. All the flowers and modern label punch were very rounded so I decided round all the corners of the card. I think it makes a very sweet and cute girly birthday card! 

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I look forward to reading your comments! 

Hugs,

Amanda x

fuelling my addiction

Well, I said I was into a wreath theme at the moment, and here is yet another one for you to enjoy. 

For You Summer Wreath

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Ink: Rose Red

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive Texture

DSP: So Saffron, Rose Red

Punches: Modern Label, Itty Bitty Pack, 1 3/4" Circle, Boho Blossoms

Accessories: Rhinestones 

Extras: Tombo, Dimensionals

Very simple really, just like the Two Step Bird wreath I used the circle punch as a template and stuck the Itty Bitty Punch Pack flower shapes to it to fill it out. Stamped my sentiment on the Modern Label punch and assembled! Voilà!

I think this is probably my least favourite of my wreaths to date. Look forward to reading what you think! Thanks.

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge, week 16

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge challenge is a sketch! I got on a lot better with it this week than the last one. So without further waffling, here is the sketch and my entry...

Playdate Flowers

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Ink: Real Red

Cardstock: Whisper White 

DSP: Playdate

Punches: 1" Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 3/4" Circle, Corner Rounder

Extras: Dimensionals

I happened to have the Playdate paper out when I was doing this card and thought  the colours and patterns would work well for this sketch. I originally punched out the circles to add around in a scallop fashion around the larger circles but it just looked too flat. Then I had the idea to pinch one end of the circle up to add some creases and folds in the petal, and wow, it really worked! What an easy and effective way to create dimension and punch to a simple punched up flower! When all the layers were put together, something just wasn't sitting right, it needed some curved corners to mirror the curves in the flowers. I rounded one then thought it would look cool and a little different to round the opposite one! I'm really pleased with this card, what a cute child's card and so simple to make! 

Let me know what you think, I love reading your comments. 

Now head on over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog to see the other design team's entries and enter your sketch interpretation! I love seeing how one sketch can look so different from one card to the next! 

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda xx

give it some texture!

The third of the cards I made for women leaving a women's Bible Committee. This one was for a woman who is moving to Norfolk!

So Sorry You're Leaving 

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crumb Cake

DSP: Playdate

Punches: Corner Rounder

Extras: Brown Pen, Sponge, Crimper

I chose a couple green patterns out of the Playdate paper which I layered up to look like hills (I know Norfolk is really flat but the hills worked for the card). I sponged the background to look like a sky with clouds. Then made the house with some red dsp from the Playdate collection again and also some Crumb Cake. When I started putting it together I just couldn't get the house to work, I think because everything was so textured and patterned the flat cardstock stuck out like a sore thumb, so I decided to give it a go and crimp it...seemed to work! Finally to tie everything together and give it a slightly more country feel I drew brown stitching lines around everything. I finished it off with the sentiment, half stamped and half handwritten. I really love the half and half style, it ties together the geometric patterns and the hand made quality together nicely! 

Hope you enjoyed seeing today's card, I love doing cards on commission. Especially for an occassion that isn't an everyday one as it really stretches my creative brain! 

Hugs,

Amanda 

vintage loving

Hello friends! 

Just a quick little post for you today...

Vintage Love

Stamp Set: Punch Potpourri (Hostess Only), I {Heart} Hearts, Basic Phrases

Ink: Basic Black, Rose Red, Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Crumb Cake

Extras: Sponge, Dimensionals, Blender Pen

I stamped the heart from Punch Potpourri on some Very Vanilla cardstock and coloured in the flowers using the blender pen and finally cut it out. I then stamped some hearts from the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set on another piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. I then sponged the Very Vanilla cardstock and the Vanilla heart with Crumb Cake ink to give it a vintage aged feel. Finally I adhered all the elements together and stamped the sentiment at the bottom of the Vanilla cardstock. This would make a very cute little wedding card for someone or indeed an anniversary card!

I hope you enjoyed this sweet and simple card today! Come back tomorrow for another one!

Look forward to reading all your comments!

Hugs,

Amanda x

welcome sue

As promised, today I would like to show the little card I made for Sue to welcome her into my team!

One thing I seem to be seeing a lot at the moment are wreaths. I saw a lot of them when I was in the States and I thought they all looked so pretty! I think its a common misconception that they're a winter and Christmas item, but by doing a few simple alterations they can be made into a simple image to be used at any time of the year. I must admit, I am on a bit of a wreath craze at the moment!

Friend Summer Wreath 

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Ink: Old Olive

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive Textured, Regal Rose Textured

DSP: So Saffron

Punches: Modern Label, Two Step Bird, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, 1 3/4" Circle

Accessories: Pearls, Linen Thread

Extras: Dimensionals, Tombo Multi Glue

The light bright airy colours really make this card summery and cheerful! Its so simple to do, simply punch out the circle punch and put a line of tombo around the edge and lay branches from the Two Step Bird punch and snip off the extra bits of branch hanging over. When the circle is complete with branches add flowers from the Itty Bitty punch pack to fill in the gaps, add a few pearls and a linen thread bow. I stamped the sentiment on So Saffron dsp and  punched it out with the Modern Label punch. To tie in the sentiment with the wreath I added a few more pieces of branch and a couple more flowers! 

I hope you enjoyed today's little share! For more projects I've been working on come back each day next week for a new card! 

Also, don't forget to come back tomorrow for the new Simply Stampin' Challenge. 

Look forward to reading your comments, 

'til next time, 

Amanda 

xx

simply stampin' challenge, week 14

Colour Combo week at the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog once more! This week's colour combo is

Its not a colour combination I would have readily put together myself, and when I saw it I must admit I was a little sceptical! However, I have been converted! This just goes to prove, you must always keep an open mind!!

Celebrate Circles

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Cardstock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy

DSP: Peach Parfait (Hostess Only)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Punches: 1 3/4" Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1" Circle

Accessories: Whisper White

Extras: White Gel Pen

A really simple card, I layered up different sized circles of the 3 main colours using the whisper white as a background. I added a white stitching line around the edges to tie them all together and blend better with the background. I thought they looked really nice as a row along the bottom but the top of the card was then too unbalanced so I filled that with some Whisper White ribbon, very subtle tone on tone effect but really helps to balance out the card. Finally I was looking for a suitable place to stamp a sentiment and thought, why not stamp on the ribbon...its worth a go! Well, it bled a little, which wouldn't have happened if I had used stazon ink but it doesn't look too bad, and does the job! 

Well, I hope you enjoyed this little colour combo card and now please head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog and enter in! It doesn't matter if you haven't got the exact colours, just use the closest ones that you do have! 

'Til next time, 

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge, week 13

This week we are back to a Sketch at the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog! I am going to admit right now that I found this the most difficult sketch to date, usually I love sketches as it gives you the template and all you have to do is insert the paper and stamping - it takes some of the thinking and decision making out of the process. Unfortunately this one, I was trying to make ahead of time several weeks ago, and I don't know why but whatever I did just looked a nightmare! I finally gave up on it and then came back to it this past week, and finally made it work! I'm actually really happy with the final outcome!

Here is the sketch and my creation...

For You Gala

Stamp Set: Basic Phrases

Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze

Ink: Chocolate Chip

DSP: Greenhouse Gala

Punches: Modern Label

Extras: Crystal Effects, Dimensionals

A really simple card really, I used strips of the Pear Pizzazz and Baja Breeze dsp paper with the small round flowers on it in the background then used the coordinating large Pear Pizzazz and Baja Breeze flowers on another piece of the Gala dsp. I added some Whisper White and Chocolate Chip cardstock between the two layers to help the flowers stand out. I adhered everything down onto a Whisper White background and popped the sentiment and large flowers up on dimensionals. The last thing I decided to do was coat the centres of the flowers with cyrstal effects just to add a different texture and accent to the card! 

Please let me know what you think, I love reading your comments! Head over to the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog, take a look at the lovely creations by the other design team members and enter this week's challenge! I look forward to seeing your entries! :) 

Amanda xoxo